I'm very happy to know that you are interested in your child learning cursive! It's truly a life skill that has been forgotten about in many places. You see the importance in your child needing to know how to sign his/her name, read old documents, and read and write cards written in cursive. Often children are unmotivated to practice their cursive alone with their workbook. In this fun and interactive class, I will teach children how to write the alphabet in cursive. They will learn how to write their name and even simple sentences. We will also practice reading short passages written in cursive. 

The class will be paced according to the progress of the students. We will frequently review the letters that are most challenging to students. I always welcome watercolor paints, markers, and other materials that will encourage the students to write in cursive and have fun! Using art supplies in class will especially help the kinesthetic learners to remember how to form the letters, so please allow your learner to bring those craft supplies to class to help them be excited about practicing their cursive. There are different styles of cursive. The style that I prefer, and will be teaching is Zaner Bloser. I learned this method as a child and this method was reinforced to me in college, as I studied Early Childhood Education. 

***This is an ongoing class and students may join at any point. With this being said, I may have students on various cursive levels. There will be times I may have students working on different assignments during class. A very new cursive student may be writing his/her letters and practicing formation techniques. Other students may be working on forming words or even sentences. Each student will be receiving my help on their level. The lesson plans below are a loose plan for each class and may change depending on my observations of what each student needs. 

Class 1: Week of June 6th -
We will practice learning the uppercase cursive letters. The students may use their cursive journal or a plain piece of paper. Whatever is available at their home is fine. We will practice by using watercolor strokes, pipe cleaners, and play-doh. The students will also practice with pencil and paper.  

Class 2: Week of June 13th -
We will practice learning the lowercase cursive letters. We will practice by using watercolor strokes, pipe cleaners, and play-doh. The students will also practice with pencil and paper. We will read together, Have You Seen Elephant?, by: David Barrow. Students will take turns reading pages. 

Class 3: Week of June 20th -
We will practice the uppercase and lowercase cursive letters. We will practice by using watercolor strokes, pipe cleaners, and play-doh. The students will also practice with pencil and paper. Students will begin learning how to write their names in cursive. We will begin making our journal cover with yarn and glue. Students will write the cursive alphabet on the inside cover of the cursive journal. If time allows, students will write and even make up cute tongue twisters. These can be written in their cursive journals. Reference book - Queen Quail is Quiet and other ABC Tongue Twisters, by: Erika Barriga.

Class 4: Week of June 27th -
Using the book, How to Write a Journal, by: Cecilia Minden, we will focus on the content in Ch. 1, "All About You." I will teach that having fun and using creativity to tell about oneself is key! Students may have fun by doodling with fun colored pens beside their cursive writing. If time allows, they may illustrate the journal entry. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. If time allows, students will write and even make up cute tongue twisters. These can be written in their cursive journals. Reference book - Queen Quail is Quiet and other ABC Tongue Twisters, by: Erika Barriga.

Class 5: Week of July 4th -
Using the book, How to Write a Journal, by: Cecilia Minden, as a reference, students will focus on Ch. 2, "Write About a Place." Students will write about a place they like to visit in the summer. If time allows, they may illustrate the journal entry. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. 

Class 6: Week of July 11th -
We will use the book How to Write a Poem, by: Cecilia Minden and Kate Roth, as a reference in this class. We will also be referring to the book, Acrostic Poems, by: Lisa M. Bolts Simons to read examples of acrostics. The students will practice writing an acrostic using the letters in their name. This will go in their cursive journal. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. If time allows, they may illustrate the poem.

Class 7: Week of July 18th - Undercurve (page 12)
We will continue to use the book How to Write a Journal, by: Cecilia Minden, as a reference for our class. This class will focus on the content in Ch. 4, "Write About Your Feelings." I will share my Inside Out characters and plush emojis as props, as we discuss emotions. We will write the feelings words that represent the Inside Out characters - joy, disgust, anger, and fear. If students feel comfortable, they may read their writing aloud to the class. 

Part 2 (As always, new students are welcome to join at any time to this ongoing cursive class. I am slightly restructuring this class over time, as I see what works the best and what doesn't.)

Class 1: Week of July 25th - Review Basic Strokes: Undercurve (page 12) and writing positions for left and right handed & Add Basic Strokes: Downcurve (page 13)
We will continue to use the book How to Write a Journal, by: Cecilia Minden, as a reference for our class. This class will focus on the content in Ch. 4 again, "Write About Your Feelings." I will share my Inside Out characters again and plush emojis as props, as we discuss emotions and they write. We will review "feelings" words as they use them in their writing. If time allows, they may illustrate the journal entry. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. 

Class 2: Week of August 1st - Basic Strokes: Overcurve (page 14)
We will read together, Have You Seen Elephant?, by: David Barrow. Students will take turns reading pages. The teacher will provide a handout of a story ladder. We will practice writing using the sequence adverbs: first, next, then, and finally.

Class 3: Week of August 8th - Basic Strokes: Slant (page 15)
Students will begin learning how to write their names in cursive. Students will write and even make up cute tongue twisters. Reference book - Queen Quail is Quiet and other ABC Tongue Twisters, by: Erika Barriga.

Class 4: Week of August 15th - Keys to Legibility: Shape (page 16)
Using the book, How to Write a Journal, by: Cecilia Minden, as a reference, students will focus on Ch. 2, "Write About a Place." Students will write about a place they like to visit. If time allows, they may illustrate the journal entry. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. 

Class 5: Week of August 22nd - Keys to Legibility: Size (page 17)
We will use the book How to Write a Poem, by: Cecilia Minden and Kate Roth, as a reference in this class. We will also be referring to the book, Acrostic Poems, by: Lisa M. Bolts Simons to read examples of acrostics. The students will practice writing an acrostic in cursive writing, using the letters in their name. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. If time allows, they may illustrate the poem.

Class 6: Week of August 29th - Keys to Legibility: Spacing (page 18)
Using the book, How to Write a Journal, by: Cecilia Minden, as a reference, students will focus on Ch. 5, "Write About Your Opinion." Students will write about their opinion on any topic. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. 

Class 7: Week of September 5th - Keys to Legibility: Slant (page 19)
Using the book, How to Write a Journal, by: Cecilia Minden, as a reference, students will focus on Ch. 6, "Write About Your Wishes and Dreams." Students will write about their wishes and dreams in life. If time allows, they may illustrate the journal entry. If students feel comfortable, they may read theirs aloud to the class. 

Class 8: Week of September 12th 
Write the days of the week in cursive. Uppercase Letter focus: D & C

Class 9: Week of September 19th
Uppercase Letter focus: E & N

Class 10: Week of September 26th
Uppercase Letter focus: M & H
Practice drawing cursive creatures.

Class 11: Week of October 3rd
Uppercase Letter focus: K & U
cursive name art 

Class 12: Week of October 10th
Uppercase Letter focus: Y & Z
cursive letter artwork - turn cursive Y into a mouse drawing

Class 13: Week of October 17th
Uppercase Letter focus: V & W
cursive letter artwork - turn cursive W into a bat drawing

Class 14: Week of October 24th 
copywork for autumn poem: Merry Autumn Days

Class 15: Week of October 31st
copywork for autumn poem: A Bed in the Leaves
Teacher will introduce for the month of November: I'm thankful for... Students will write in cursive a Thanksgiving list of things for which they're grateful. 

Class 16: Week of November 7th
Uppercase Letter focus: X & I
Thankful acrostic in cursive
Students and teacher will share what they have added to their I'm thankful for list so far. 

Class 17: Week of November 14th
Uppercase Letter focus: J & Q
cursive letter artwork - turn cursive J into a cute bug drawing
Thankful acrostic in cursive - complete this from last week to give to parents for Thanksgiving
Students and teacher will share what they have added to their I'm thankful for list so far. 

Class 18: Week of November 21
Uppercase Letter focus: T & F
cursive letter artwork - turn cursive F into a duck drawing
Students and teacher will share what they have added to their I'm thankful for list so far. 

Class 19: Week of November 28th
winter word search
Students will find the words and write them in ABC order in cursive. Then students will write sentences or a poem using the words.

Class 20: Week of December 5th
Uppercase Letter focus: G & S
cursive letter artwork - turn cursive letters G & S into drawings
Write cursive tongue twisters for letters G & S.
Begin Christmas & Hanukkah Jokes https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/christmas-jokes-kids-love-25-days-countdown-calendar-advent/
https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/hanukkah-jokes-puns/amp

Class 21: Week of December 12th
Christmas word search
Students will find the words and write them in ABC order in cursive. Then students will write sentences or a poem using the words.
Christmas - This or That writing activity
Continue Christmas & Hanukkah Jokes https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/christmas-jokes-kids-love-25-days-countdown-calendar-advent/
https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/hanukkah-jokes-puns/amp

Week of December 19th - no class - Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Class 22: Week of December 26th
Uppercase Letter focus: L & P
cursive letter artwork - turn cursive letters L & P into drawings

Class 23: Week of January 2nd
Happy New Year acrostic

Class 24: Week of January 9th
Uppercase Letter focus: R & B
cursive letter artwork - turn cursive letters R & B into drawings

Class 25: Week of January 16th
Chinese New Year is January 22, 2023. Learn and write about Chinese New Year together in cursive. 




Suggested Learner Supply List:
-plenty of pencils and erasers
-A 3 ring binder with notebook paper inside is suggested for this class. I will also be sharing links to pages that can be printed. I highly recommend that families hole punch and keep the pages in a 3 ring binder.  I understand that not all families have a printer. Please print the pages if possible, but I will screen-share the needed materials for students without a printer. The students will take pride as they see the progression over time of how their cursive is improving. 
-watercolor paints, a paintbrush, glitter glue, markers, and colored pens for doodling